Caladium plant named ‘Blushing Bride’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Blushing Bride’, characterized by its upright and mounding plant habit; intermediate plant size; uniform potted plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; fast growth rate; and lance-type greyed purple-colored leaves with dark green-colored margins and whitish-colored venation tinged with greyed purple.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BLUSHING BRIDE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladiumplant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referredto as a lance leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Blushing Bride’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create newCaladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container andgarden performance and attractive foliage coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2002, in Lake Placid, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum‘Pink Symphony’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withCaladium×hortulanum ‘Aaron’, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in LakePlacid, Fla. on Jun. 15, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by tuber divisions in acontrolled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since Apr.15, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Blushing Bride’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Blushing Bride’ as a new and distinctCaladium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding plant habit; intermediate plant size.    -   2. Uniform potted plant habit.    -   3. Vigorous and dense growth habit.    -   4. Fast growth rate.    -   5. Lance-type greyed purple-colored leaves with dark        green-colored margins and whitish-colored venation tinged with        greyed purple.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Pink Symphony’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are more compact than and not as        upright as plants of ‘Pink Symphony’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘Pink        Symphony’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Pink Symphony’ differ in leaf        coloration as plants of ‘Pink Symphony’ have light pink to        white-colored leaves with green-colored margins and        green-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Aaron’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of        ‘Aaron’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of        ‘Aaron’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Aaron’ differ in leaf        coloration as plants of ‘Aaron’ have white-colored leaves with        green-colored margins and white-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of ‘FloridaSweetheart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladiumdiffered primarily from plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were taller and more upright than        plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium were more elongate than        and not as broad as leaves of plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differed        in leaf coloration as plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ had light        pink-colored leaves with white and green-colored margins and        rose-colored venation.    -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differed        in spathe coloration as plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ had white        to off-white-colored spathes.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of ‘ThaiBeauty’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in LakePlacid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plantsof ‘Thai Beauty’ in leaf coloration as plants of ‘Thai Beauty’ had palepink to white-colored leaves with white to green-colored margins andvenation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Caladium plant. These photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Blushing Bride’ grown in a 15-cm container in ashadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a top perspective viewof typical plants of ‘Blushing Bride’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical freshly-dug tubers and roots of ‘Blushing Bride’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Blushing Bride’.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a side perspective viewof typical potted plants of the male parent, ‘Aaron’ (left), ‘BlushingBride’ (center) and the female parent, ‘Pink Symphony’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a side perspectiveview of typical potted plants of ‘Thai Beauty’ (left), ‘Blushing Bride’(center) and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containersin Avon Park, Fla. in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% shade) andplants grown in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Zolfo Springs, Fla.during the late autumn and early winter. All plants were grown underconditions and practices which approximate those generally used incommercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery Caladium production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C.to 33° C. (shadehouse) or 29° C. to 35° C. (outdoor nursery), nighttemperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. (shadehouse) or 23° C.to 26° C. (outdoor nursery) and light levels were about 8,000foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoornursery). Plants had been growing in the shadehouse for ten weeks fromplanting tubers when the photographs and the detailed description weretaken. Plants had been growing in the outdoor nursery for eight monthsfrom planting tuber divisions when the photographs and the detaileddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Blushing Bride’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Pink            Symphony’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Aaron’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By tuber divisions.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at            32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at            24° C.        -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown            plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments            ovate to round in shape. Height: About 3.4 cm. Diameter:            About 4.3 cm. Texture: Thick and starchy; somewhat brittle.            Color: Epidermis, close to 161D, 164D and 199D; interior,            close to 200A to 200B. Root description: Dense, thick,            fleshy contractile roots with few lateral branches; color,            close to 155C.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant            in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape            plant in shaded areas.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounding plant habit;            intermediate plant size; inverted triangle; vigorous and            dense growth habit; rapid growth rate; petioles and leaves            arise from one or more growing points on tubers; petioles            mostly upright and leaning outwardly with development.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane,            shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 20 cm to 26 cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,            shadehouse-grown plants.—About 26 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 40            cm to 44 cm.        -   Number of clumps per plant, shadehouse-grown plants.—About            five to eight from tubers.        -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown plants.—Length: About 4.5 cm.            Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Sheathing the stem. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Between            159C to 157B tinged with close to 148B; fine streaks and            speckles, close to 147A; with development, color becoming            closer to 200D.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Length, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 13 cm to 20 cm.        -   Width, shadehouse-grown plants (flattened).—About 8 cm to            10.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate to acute.        -   Base.—Sagittate to cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire with broad undulations.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color, shadehouse-grown plants.—Developing leaves, upper            surface: Center: Ground color of close to 158D, 155C or 146A            with large intervenal areas close to 184B, 184C to 184D or            close to 181C. Margins: Close to 147A and N189A; basal            notch, close to 59A. Venation: Midrib, close to 155C with            random flecks and streaks of close to 184D; primary veins,            similar to lamina color and purple tinging. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Center: Ground color of close to 155C            tinged with close to 184C with random streaks and intervenal            areas close to 184B or 184B to 184C. Margins: Close to 191A.            Venation: Midrib, close to 147C to 147D tinged with close to            N170D; primary veins, close to 147B to 147C or 147C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Center: Intervenal areas of            close to 185C to 185D or between 185D to 186D. Margins:            Close to 147A and N189A; basal notch, close to 59A to 59B.            Venation: Midrib, close to 156B; primary veins, close to            155C, close to 156B or close to 156B tinged with close to            184B to 184C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Center:            Intervenal areas of close to 184C to 184D. Margins: Close to            191A; basal notch, close to 59A to 59B. Venation: Midrib,            close to 147C to 147D tinged with close to N170D; primary            veins, close to 147C to 147D.        -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, outwardly leaning and arching            with development; flexible. Length, shadehouse-grown plants:            About 16 to 19 cm. Diameter, distal, shadehouse-grown            plants: About 4 mm. Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown            plants: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Color, shadehouse-grown plants,            distal: Close to 157A. Color, shadehouse-grown plants,            proximal: Close to 159C tinged with close to 157B, 177D and            148B with fine streaks, close to 147A. Wing length,            shadehouse-grown plants: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm. Wing            diameter, shadehouse-grown plants: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Wing            color, shadehouse-grown plants, outer and inner surfaces:            Close to 159C and 157B tinged with close to 148B and with            fine streaks and speckles, close to 147A.-   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on    shadehouse-grown plants.    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes            surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;            spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers            separated into two zones; female flowers arranged on the            lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers arranged on the            upper two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop            between female and male flower zones; near this area, the            spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses the female            flowers; spathe open and cupped around male flowers.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season/longevity.—Plants of the new            Caladium typically flower during the spring or early summer            in central Florida; flowers develop about nine to ten weeks            after growth commences; inflorescences last about three days            before fading; inflorescences persistent.        -   Spathe.—Length: About 7.7 cm; open length, about 4.8 cm and            closed length, about 2.9 cm. Width, distal: About 1.9 cm.            Width, proximal: About 1.8 cm. Width, at constriction: About            1.3 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Tapering to the            peduncle. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Front surface: Upper two-thirds:            Towards the apex, close to N155B mottled with close to 184B            to 184D; towards the female zone, close to N155B, with            development, color becoming closer to 199D and 200D. Lower            one-third: Close to 148C with longitudinal streaks, close to            147B; towards the base, close to 148C tinged with close to            187A; with development, color becoming closer to 147C with            longitudinal streaks, close to 148A to 148B, and areas of            close to 155A. Rear surface: Upper two-thirds: Close to 158C            tinged with close to 146C to 146D; towards the margins,            close to N155B mottled with close to 184B to 184D. Lower            one-third: Close to 147C with longitudinal streaks, close to            148A to 148B, and areas of close to 155A. Spadix: Length:            About 5.3 cm. Length, male flower zone: About 2.6 cm.            Length, female flower zone: About 1.8 cm. Length, sterile            flower zone: About 9 mm. Diameter, male flower zone: About            8 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 9 mm. Diameter,            sterile flower zone: About 5 mm. Shape: Columnar. Apex:            Acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male            zone: Close to 159D. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to            159D. Color, mature, female zone: Between 159A and 162C.            Male flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 145. Shape:            Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11C. Female            flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 120. Shape: Obovate.            Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Stigma color:            Close to 159D. Ovary color: Close to 155B. Scape: Length:            About 15.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Sturdy;            flexible. Aspect: Erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;            glaucous. Color: Close to 148B to 148C with fine            streaks/speckles, close to 147A; just below spathe, close to            146B. Seed and fruit: Seed and fruit development have not            been observed on plants of the new Caladium.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Caladium    plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about    40° C. and suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11.

1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Blushing Bride’ as illustrated and described. 